Bacteria in the gut of autistic children different from non-autistic children

[Celebration]

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-bacteria-gut-autistic-children-non-autistic.html

Bacteria belonging to the group Sutterella represented a relatively large proportion of the microorganisms found in 12 of 23 tissue samples from the guts of autistic children, but these organisms were not detected in any samples from non-autistic children. Why this organism is present only in autistic kids with gastrointestinal problems and not in unaffected kids is unclear.

.............snip.......................

"Sutterella has been associated with gastrointestinal diseases below the diaphragm, and whether it's a pathogen or not is still not clear," explains Jorge Benach, Chairman of the Department of Microbiology at Stony Brook University and a reviewer of the report. "It is not a very well-known bacterium."

Benach says the study was uniquely powerful because they used tissue samples from the guts of patients. "Most work that has been done linking the gut microbiome with autism has been done with stool samples," says Benach, but the microorganisms shed in stool don't necessarily represent the microbes that line the intestinal wall. "What may show up in a stool sample may be different from what is directly attached to the tissue," he says.

Tissue biopsy samples require surgery to acquire and represent a difficult process for the patient, facts that underscore the seriousness of the gastrointestinal problems many autistic children and their families must cope with.

Benach emphasizes that the study is statistically powerful, but future work is needed to determine what role Sutterella plays, if any, in the problems in the gut. "It is an observation that needs to be followed through," says Benach.

[bemildred]

1. That is so weird you think it must mean something completely unexpected. nt

[LeftishBrit]

2. Interesting; but it should be noted that the majority of autistic children *don't* have

gastrointestinal problems, so this may not apply to autism in general.

I suspect that there may be some genetic links between autism and some forms of gastrointestinal problems and/or immunity to certain bacteria.

Also, people with gastrointestinal problems may have less immunity to certain organisms *because* of their underlying condition, and/or because of diet or medication.

[Odin2005]

3. And why is it always autistic KIDS? It's like us autistic adults don't exist.

[laconicsax]

4. It's much easier to get parental consent for invasive tests.

How many adults would consent to the kind of testing they put autistic kids through?

[Odin2005]

5. Good point. The ignorant parents can be convinced to make their kids guinea pigs.